SMUGGLING TIMELINE

In 2005, a 23-year-old Albanian named Shkelquim Harizi and his mother planned to pay a Canadian and a group of Albanian-American smugglers more than $10,000 to help them cross the border into Canada. But as part of the plan they had to cross the Detroit River on Jet Skis.

On September 2, Harizi and his mother held on to each other as a Canadian smuggler drove them across the water to their destination. But as they travelled their jet ski capsized and sent all three into the fast-moving water. Harizi’s mother and the smuggler swam to shore, but Harizi was carried away by the current.

According to World Vision Canada, our nation is “a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking.” It’s the third most profitable branch of organized crime following drugs and firearms, and the RCMP estimate that between 600 and 800 people are smuggled into Canada annually.

In 2005, Canada enacted human-trafficking legislation which has since produced five convictions, says Justice Canada.

Jessica Bell

(Photo: flickr/versageek)